Even in suicide, insurance must be paid: court

The court has ruled that the family of a woman who was caught having an affair by her husband and committed suicide thereafter is entitled to insurance payment.

The Seoul central district court thus directed the insurance company to pay 250 million won ($220,000) in compensation to the husband.

The court said, “There is evidence that the person in question was heavily intoxicated and was too embarrassed to make a rational decision when she took her life.”

Under the existing commercial insurance law, insurance companies are not responsible when it is proven that the person in question committed the actions while being aware of what they were doing.

The Supreme Court had ruled in 2006 that the person under insurance cannot be held responsible if he or she was not in a position to make a responsible decision.